Snow-melting device.



l, ernten.

HOWARD G. LAPSLEY, OF PLAINFIELD, lhlr'lVVV SIEItSIElYlV snow-Mamme Dnvicn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. i6, 1913.

Application led April 22, 1911. Serial No. 622,791.

To all whom t may. concern Be it known that I,`HowARD G. LAPsLnY, a citizen of the United States, residing Vat Plainfield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in SnowsMelting Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to snow melting devices;and it comprises a transportable casing, advantageously wheeled, having a perforated false bottom, means for removing water therebeneath, a Vremovable top carrying a slidably mounted steam pipe terminating in a rose or the like and adapted for connection with a source of steam, and sealing means for said top; all as more fully hereinafter set forth and as'claimed.

It is often desirable to melt `snow as a quick and easy method of removing it. The amount of heat required for melting snow is relatively great, and the specific heat of the water formed is also relatively great so that in this operation an economy of heat is very desirable; and it is desirable that the apparatus to be employed shall give this economy; Various devices have been proposed for melting' by the aid of fire heat applied in one way or another, but the utilizationof heat in this manner is not good. It is better to use steam, either exhaust or direct steam as the case may be. In melting by steam, it is desirable that the steam be confined incontact with the snow until the melting is eectedV and the temperature of the whole system of steam and snow becomes, as nearly as possible, 32 F. And it is desirable that the water be removed as fast as formed in order to avoid unnecessary expenditure of heat by delivering the water at a temperature above 32 F. Y

In the present invention I have devised a simple, cheap and economical apparatus for melting snow by the use o-f steam. For this purpose I provide a transportable Vcasing or container, which is advantageously mounted on cart wheels and may be made of metal or other suitable material. Wit-hin this container I provide a perforated false bottom upon which the snow may rest. Below the perforated false bottom I provide a valved outlet or other suitable means for removing water trickling through such bottom so that water may not remain in the presence of the heating agent but may escape at the temperature at which it is formed, 32 F. I

provide a removable top for this container with gasketing means to make it substantially air tight and steam tight in use. The gasketing means do not have to resist any pressure since the steam introduced is at once Vcondensed by the' snow and consequently no pressure is produced. Through a gland or stuliing box n this top I pass a slidably mounted steam pipe provided with a valve near its top and with a rose or the like at its bottom. lThe steam pipe may be provided with a hose or other suitable means for forming connection with a pipe supplying either live or exhaust steam. The container maybe filled with snow at any place desired and wheeled into proximity to the source of steam, the top applied, connection made with said source, and the rose at the end of the steam pipe pushed down to the bottom of the snow. On now passingin steam the rose distributes it in `ne jets within the lowermost layer of snow, quickly .melting it. Any steam escaping immediate condensation and rising,is at once condensed by the snow above. The water formed .passes downward and escapes through the perforatedbottom at the temperature of melting, 32 F. Water and snow ca n only co-exist at 32 F. As the snow disappears the steam pipe is raised upward. The steam being introduced into direct contact with the snow, and there being snow above the point of introduction, no steam accumulates in the chamber above the snow.

In the accompanying illustration I have shown, more or less diagrammatically, an advantageous embodiment of the described invention.

In this showing, Figure 1 is an elevation of the cover and attachments; and Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly brokenV away, of the mounted body of the snow melter, without the cover.

Referring to the drawings, l is a snow container mounted on wheels 2 and provided with handles 3. Within the container near its bottom is a perforated false bottom 4, forming a chamber 5 for water therebelow., Valved outlet 6 permits withdrawal of the water and discharge into a sewer or the like. Top 7 (shown above the container for convenience of illustration) is of a form adapting it to fit the rim of the container and is provided with gasket-ing means 8 and with flanges 9 and l0, allowing a tight joint to be readily made. Handles 1l allow convenient manipulation. Through gland-12 in the top passes av steam-pipe 13- provided:

With valve lil and connecting means 15, shown as a piece of rubber tubing. At its base the pipe is provided With rose 16.

The use of theaboveistructure-is-.evident from the foregoing. Container 1. is filled with snow at any desired point and'ivheeled into proximity to a souree of steam. Top 7 bottom.

The container may-be a canot about a. cubic yard capacity and may be ofthe gen-- eral shape of a truncatedcone.

While the snow as it melts, may tumble; more or less, it generally preserves ani arched form and the rose is kept in this:

arch by the progressive upward pulling of the pipe 13 through the gland or stuting; boXl 12. The perforated false bottom acts as a trash-catcher, preventing sticks, stoneS,. and other rubbish unavoidably collectedwith the snow from passing into the sewer' or other place of discharge.

What I claim is 1. In a snou7 melting device, a transport-- fable casing provided with drainage means near its base, a removable top for the casing;

lower" end;

provided with means for making a tight jointl anda steamfppefpassing through and vertically movable With relation to said top and' provided with steam. distributing means at its lowerend.

2.*.In asnow melting device,a:transport able easinga false bottom spanning it near the base, a'removable topV therefor provided' with means for making a tight joint, and a steam pipe passing,- through and vertically `movable Withrelationto said top and provided With steam distributing means at its 3. `In a snow." melting device, al Wheeled casing,"a false bottom. spanning said oontainer near the base, means` for removing Water therebelow, a removable gasketed top carrying'a gland; anda valved,` vertically movable steam pipe passing through said gland and provided With a roseat its lower endl Y 1. In a snow meltingdevice, al transportable casing-w-ith` a false bottomnear the base and` means for removing Water therebelovv,V

:a removable top thereforV provided with v means for makinga tight' joint and a steam pipe passing` throughsaid top and'fprovided With steamdistributing" means at its lower end. n

In testimony WhereoiQI aiiix my signa ture in thepresence'of-Witnesses. v

I-IGWARD Gr: LAPSLEY. .v

Witnesses :A

HERMAN GUSTOW, ARTHUR MARION.

G9Psot:ths.patentf may be obtained for five` cents each, by addressingthe` u Commissioner of Eaten,

Washington, 11.0. 

